Injectable Asthma Medication -- Omalizumab (Xolair®)
Omalizumab (Xolair®) is a controller medicine used to treat moderate to severe, persistent allergic asthma not adequately controlled with inhaled steroids. Omalizamub (Xolair®) is a medicine called an IgE blocker. IgE stands for immunoglobulin E and occurs naturally in the body.
People with allergic asthma, who are exposed to year-round allergens (like animal dander) produce higher levels of IgE which can lead to asthma flare-ups and increased symptoms. By blocking the IgE, omalizamub can reduce those reactions. In studies, long-term treatment in people with allergic asthma showed a decrease in asthma flare-ups and corticosteroid usage.
Omalizaumab (Xolair®) is given by a shot under the skin, once every 2 - 4 weeks. Omalizamub is only effective as long as the injections continue.
Controller Medications:
- Prevent asthma symptoms from occurring
- Can reduce and/or prevent:
- Inflammation and scarring in the airways
- Tightening of the muscle bands around the airways (bronchospasm)
- Do not show immediate results, but work slowly over time
- Should be taken daily, even when you are not having symptoms
- Should NOT be used to relieve immediate asthma symptoms
According to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program at the National Institutes of Health, long-term controller medicines should be considered when infants or young children have had three or more episodes of wheezing in the previous year and who are at an increased risk of developing asthma because of their own or their parents' history of allergic diseases. They also recommend long-term controller medicines for children who need short-acting bronchodilators (rescue medicines) more than twice a week or have had severe asthma symptoms less than six weeks apart. Without a controller medicine, the underlying inflammation will continue to cause more asthma symptoms.
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